More like abdicated. Dethroned suggests active effort and replacement, and while Level 5 and NIS are the current go-tos, they're more traditionalist than even current Square. Are just more competent and are making games with intent to entrain players, not advertise jewelry fashion or energy drinks.

Ever since Square abandoned games like Final Fantasy Tactics, Chrono Trigger, Xenogears, Legend Of Mana, Vagrant Story and every Final Fantasy up to number 7, their RPGs have been lacking in content, depth, and gameplay. It's like Square abandoned "story telling" in favor of making "action" rpgs and the quality of their games slowly collasped. In an attempt to cater to every type of gamer, Square forgot the type of gamer that once had them at the forefront of a genre. And it seems that Square has learned a few things and tried to reverse this trend with FF IVX. Making games like Thief will do nothing for Square's reputation, hopefully Square will get back to it's roots.